Fire extinguisher



March 23, 1954 T. C. MOUSER FIRE EXTINGUISHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1951 INVENTOR. 7Ec2 a /eCY Moqser BY March 23, 1954 OUSER 2,672,938

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed 001;. 4, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Tedd/? G/Vouder BY March 1954 T. c. MOUSER 2,672,938

FIRE EXTINGUISHER 001". 4, 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 7EQ Q /e U. Mouaer Arro/e/vgy Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a fire extinguisher, and more particularly to a fire extinguisher that is actuated by heat or flames of a conflagration.

The object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher that includes a mechanism that is actuated upon the outbreak of a fire or confiagration whereby water, or chemicals will be discharged onto the fire to extinguish the fire, the fire extinguisher of the present invention further including an alarm that is actuated when a fire occurs so that persons will be warned of the fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher that includes a means for simultaneously extinguishing the fire and sounding an alarm whereby the fire will be automatically extinguished and sleepers or other persons will be notified to thereby provide a fire extinguisher which has double safety features.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher which will automatically extinguish a fire, the extinguisher of the present invention adapted to be placed in any locality where there is danger of a fire breaking out, the device of the present invention being small and compact and easily refilled and reset.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

-- Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fire ex- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 i a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chemical holding container;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the gasket;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the flammable connector; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the flammable connector.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 23 designates a suitable supporting structure such as a wall, and secured to the supporting structure 20, Figure 2, is a frame 2! which may be fabricated of metal. The frame 2| includes a plurality of spaced parallel legs 22 which arethereto is a plurality of end bars 25 and cross pieces 26. A housing 2! is supported on the frame 2 l, and the housing 21 includes an annular side wall 22% and an end wall 29. Arranged within the housing 2! is a spacer block or ring 32, and extending from the ring 32 is a bracket 3|. A bolt 33 serves to connect a dome-shaped bell 34 to the bracket 3! and, as later described in this application, the bell M will be sounded upon outbreak of a fire. A plurality of hammers are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the inner surface of the bell 34 for sounding the latter.

Extending into the housing 2! is a shaft 35 which is provided with a square portion 33 for a purpose to be later described. A first gear 31 is mounted on the square portion 36, and the gear 31 meshes with an intermediate gear 38v that is rotatably mounted on a pin 39. The gear 38 is arranged in meshing engagement with a gear til, and the gear M is connected to a shaft or pin 4!, the pin 4! being secured to a support member 42. The plurality of hammers 30 are supported by or mounted on the member 42. An arm 43 has one end connected to the square portion 36 of the shaft 35 while the other end of the arm 43 is connected to a bushing 44 through which extends the pin 4|.

A means is provided for selectively causing rotation of the shaft 35 when a fire occurs. This means comprises a spring member 48 which is positioned within the housing 21 and wound about the shaft 35. The inner portion of the spring member 45 is secured to the shaft 35 by a suitable pin 45, while the outer end of the spring 46 is secured to one of the legs 22 by a screw 41.-

Arranged on the outer end of the shaft 35 is a sleeve 49, and mounted on the sleeve 49 is a tank 48. The sleeve 49 is provided on its rear or inner end with a ratchet or cam surface 50 which is adapted to engage a pin 5| that extends.

through the shaft 35. Suitable nuts 52 and 53 are arranged on each end of the shaft 35 for maintaining the parts in their proper assembled relation.

A means is provided for preventing the rotation f the tank 48 until heat from a fire actuates the mechanism. This means comprises a strip of flammable material 54 which may be made of any suitable material such as Celluloid. One end of the Celluloid strip 54 is connected to a bolt and nut assembly 55 that extends from the housing 21, while the other end of the strip 54 is connected to a bolt and nut assembly 56 that extends from the tank 48. When the heat from the fire is ,sufficient to burn ormelt the Celluloid strip .54, the spring member 4Bwill cause rotation of the shaft 35 and this in turn will cause rotation of the tank 48 whereby the bell 34 will be sounded. At the same time, the tank 48 will be rotated so thatlthe, material contained therein Will be sprayed onto the fire to extinguish the latter. The strip 54 is provided with suitable holes 51, Figural), whereby the bolts 55 and 55 can readily be extended therethrough.

The tank 48 is adapted to hold any desired liquid such as Water or other fluid and this liquid is indicated by the letter L. Supported by the tank i48i'isarcontainer 58*which is provided with cut-outs 59 whereby the dry chemical C'a-rranged inrthe=container 58-may become intermixed with the=liquidL when the tank 48 is being rotated. Extending across the top of the container 58 is anrarcuate-lid 6!! which is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 6| whereby suitable bolts fizii-canbeextended therethrough. A gasket 63 is interposed between the lid 69 and the annular wall 6610f 'thetank 48 for insuring that ther is afiluidtight seal. The gasket 83 is provided with aclarge cut-out 64, Figure '7, whereby the major portionsof the container 58 can be projected there through. Suitable openings E5'are provided for registering with the openings 6! whereby the boltsfil can extend through the gasket 63. The annular wall 66 of the tank 48 is provided with a pluralityof spaced holes or openings 61 whereby the'material from the tank 48 will be-discharged through'the openings 6'! and onto the-fire to be extinguished.

In use, the tank 58'is filled with a suitable fire extinguishing chemical C and the tank orcontainer'58 is seated in the large tank 48 which is also filled with a fire extinguishing fluid L. Initially-the tank 48 is manually rotated to wind up the spring member 46. Then, in the event a fire or conflagration occurs, the flammable strip 54' which has been previously positioned as shown in Figure 2, burns up so that the spring'member 45- will cause rotation of the shaft 35. As the shaft rotates, the tank 48 will be rotated due to the pin 51' and' ratchet 50. This will cause the-liquid L andchemical'C 'tobe intermixed due-to th provision of the cut-outs 59 and this mixture offire: extinguishing material will bedischarged through the opening 61 onto the fire to thereby extinguish, the fire; Simultaneously, the hammers'30 will be moved into and out of engagementiwiththe bell34 so that thebell 34 will be sounded whereby; neighborsgorother persons will be'warned of the fire.

From the foregoing, it is apparentthat a fire extinguisher has been provided which will automatically extinguish a fire, at the outset. The extinguisher may be placed wherever there is dangerxof a fire breakingout andit can be made small; and compact and will not jam, or failLto work. Also,the fire extinguisher of the present-v inventionissimple and canbe fastened toawalli or-appliance. The, bell 3.4, when soundedtuwillf. awaken sleeping persons who might be victims; andmwill also attract nearby. neighbors; After the spring 46 has become unwound, the shaft 35 will quit rotating, but the tank 48 will continue to rotate due to the pin 5| and ratchet 50. Thus, the contents will be continually sprayed onto the fire to be extinguished. The m chanism is first wound and set and then filled with a suitable fire extinguishing liquid. Certain of the outlet openings are designated by the numeral 61, and the openings 61' may be arranged angularly as desired.

1. In a fire extinguisher, a fram adapted to be secured to a supporting structure and including a plurality of spaced parallel legs, a cylindrical housing mounted on said legs, a bracket arranged insaid "housing, a bell secured to said bracket, aeplurality of hammers supported for movement into and out of engagement with said bell, a rotatable shaft extending into said housing and gear means operatively coupling said shaft to said hammers for actuating the latter on the turning of the shaft, a spring member positioned in said housing and connected with said'shaft for rotating: the latter, a sleeve'positioned and coupled with' said shaft; a tank mounted onsaid sleeve for holding fire extinguishing fluid, therebeing openings in" said tank for the egress therethrough of material from said tank, and fusible means securing said tank against rotation by the spring memher.

2. In a' fire extinguisher, aframe adapted to be secured to a supporting structure and including a plurality of spaced parallel legs; a'cylindrical housing mounted on said legs, a bracket ar- J ranged in said housing, a bell secured to said bracket, a plurality of hammers supported for movement into and out ofengagementwith said bell, a rotatable shaft extending into said housing andgear means operatively coupling said shaft to said hammers for actuating the latter on the turning of the shaft, a spring member positioned in said housing-and connected with said shaft for rotating the latter, a sleeve positioned on and coupled with said shaft, a tank mounted on said sleeve for holding fire extinguishing fluid, there beingopenings in said tank for the egress therethrough of material from said tank, a fusible means securing said tank against rotation by the spring member, saidfusible means comprising a strip of'Celluloid extending between said tank and housing, and'a container positioned in said tank for holding chemicals in a dry state to be intermixed with the fluid in the tank.

3. A fire extinguisher, comprising a frame having: spaced parallel legs with means-at one end thereof for attachment to a supporting surface and transverse members connecting the other ends thereof together, a single'shaft rotatably supported by said members and extending at oneendinto the frame in parallel-relation-with said legs and having its other end extending out side the frame beyondthe-transverse members,

a bell supported within the frame, rotary striker means supported adjacent to thebell, an'woperative coupling between the shaftand said strikermeans :for actuating the-latter by and upon rotation of the shaft, a coil spring.- encircling. and

connected at oneendto the 'shaftand havingits other endv attached to the frame; areceptacle supported on the said other end offthe shaft:

outside of the. frame, said.- receptacle being adapted to contain a fire extinguishing mate rial, the.- receptacle being constructedtobroadcast. said... material when..rotated theeshaftp and..,a, couplin element. .betweenthe.receptacla and the frame for holding the receptacle against rial readily destroyed by fire.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the said operative coupling between the shaft and striker means comprises a gear train, one of the gears of the train being secured on the inner end of the shaft, the said spring when released under tension functioning to rapidly rotate the receptacle to effect the broadcasting of the contents thereof and to continuously operate said rotary striker.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein the support of the receptacle on the shaft comprises a sleeve extending through the receptacle and having the outer end of the shaft received therein, the inner end .of the sleeve being formed with a ratchet surface, and a pin 6 extending transversely through the shaft and adapted for engagement with said ratchet surface, the sleeve being movable axially on the shaft for effecting the engagement of the pin with the ratchet surface or its disengagement therefrom.

TEDDIE C. MOUSER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,362 Hicks Apr. 26, 1904 837,678 Fox et a1. Dec. 4, 1906 881,893 Bradshaw Mar. 17, 1908 1,026,856 Farr May 21, 1912 1,379,850 Canova et a1. May 31, 1921 

